Another importance of the Lean supply network is working collaboratively with a reduced number of suppliers (Trent, 2008). Fewer suppliers mean businesses can work closer and more effectively toward a common goal by sharing information and building trust. Additionally, Lean also offers clear benefits in terms of improving employee productivity. Caspian Company, a Pennsylvania industrial sensor manufacturer, achieved a 12 percent increase in labor productivity over a two-year period after implementing Lean (Cooper & Maskell,